The Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge (formerly Cherry Street Bridge) is a double-leaf

bascule bridge A bascule bridge (also referred to as a drawbridge or a lifting bridge) is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span, or leaf, throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat traffic. It may be single- or ...

adjacent to downtown Toledo,

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

, where Cherry Street crosses the

Maumee River The Maumee River (pronounced ) ( sjw, Hotaawathiipi; mia, Taawaawa siipiiwi) is a river running in the United States Midwest from northeastern Indiana into northwestern Ohio and Lake Erie. It is formed at the confluence of the St. Joseph and ...

to become Main Street on the east side of the city. The structure opened to traffic in 1914.

History

In 2001 the bridge started what was to have been a $31 million

USD The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...

refurbishment. This refurbishment widened the bridge's four lanes and added pedestrian walkways. The bridge's original control towers were replaced with new towers, modeled after the originals. When originally built, the

streetcars A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...

operated by the Toledo Railways & Light Company shared the bridge with motor vehicles. The technique employed to keep the streetcar's power wire taut when in use, yet allowing the bridge to be raised, was considered innovative and was copied in similar bridges. The bridge's original deck was an open metal mesh. The bridge was designed by

Arnold W. Brunner Arnold William Brunner (September 25, 1857 – February 14, 1925) was an American architect who was born and died in New York City. Brunner was educated in New York and in Manchester, England. He attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wh ...

and built by

Osborn Engineering Osborn Engineering, is an architectural and engineering firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 1892, it is noted mostly for designing sports stadiums. More than 100 stadiums have been designed by Osborn, including such famous parks as Fenway P ...

. The bridge, including its approaches, is long. It is located a mile upstream from the

Veterans' Glass City Skyway The Veterans' Glass City Skyway, commonly called the Toledo Skyway Bridge, is a cable-stayed bridge on Interstate 280 in Toledo, Ohio. After many delays, it opened in 2007. The bridge has taken traffic and reduced delays on the Robert Craig ...

where Interstate 280 crosses the river.

References

External links

* {{coord, 41.652626, -83.527814, display=title, region:US-OH_type:landmark, format=dms Buildings and structures in Toledo, Ohio Transportation in Toledo, Ohio Road bridges in Ohio Bascule bridges in the United States